Absent means not present or missing from a place where you're expected to be. When a student is absent from school, their desk sits empty and the teacher marks them as not there. A parent might be absent from a soccer game because of work, or a friend might be absent from your birthday party because they're sick.

The word can also describe someone who's physically there but mentally somewhere else. A classmate might be absent-minded during math class, staring out the window and missing the teacher's explanation. Their body is in the seat, but their attention is absent.

You can also use absent to describe something that's missing or lacking. A story might be exciting but absent any real danger. A painting might be beautiful but absent any people. When something important should be there but isn't, it's absent.

The opposite of absent is present. At the start of class, teachers often take attendance by calling names, and students respond “present” to show they're not absent.